674 SUPPLEMENT ON 



whole fleets, mostly on our own coasts, and have derived in- 

 calculable wealth from the pursuit, under circumstances 

 natural lv more unfavourable to them, than to the inhabitants 

 of Britain 1 . On the west coast of Ireland, the Biscayans in 

 former times, and the French at present, obtain an ample 

 reward for their exertions, while the same pursuit, under 

 Irish management, offers a constant series of losses and 

 misfortunes. There was then formerly, and there is still at 

 present, some powerful, though latent cause, to produce these 

 unlooked-for results. Although this work is not the proper 

 vehicle for the discussion of a subject of political economy, 

 still a few remarks will not be objectionable; because the 

 many attempts to ameliorate the fishing establishments which 

 have been fruitlessly made, deserve that inquiry, which a 

 question, fraught with the prosperity of a large class of the 

 community, the actual subsistence of the poor, and the best 

 nursery for seamen, is justly entitled to. 



Long before the union of the two crowns, endeavours had 

 been made in both countries to improve this branch of na- 

 tional industry. Frequent laws enacted in the reigns of 

 James III., IV., and V., show the attention of government in 

 Scotland to this branch of industry ; and the superior ma- 

 nagement in the business which the Dutch possessed, for 

 against their engrossing the trade they are mostly directed. 

 After the accession of the house of Stuart, legislative mea- 

 sures were adopted to establish fisheries in the islands of 

 Scotland, but defeated by the ignorance of the people of 



1 " The seven united provinces, which are all together not larger than 

 Yorkshire, from their fisheries alone, for which they are not nearly so 

 well situated as the Highlands and Tsles of Scotland, supported a popula- 

 tion equal to three times the number of inhabitants in the whole of North 

 Britain." Mr. Fraser's Statement to the Speaker of the House of Com- 

 mons. 1803. In their annals, herrings began to be regularly fished for 

 in 1163. 



